Long Walk of the Navajo
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It is the morning of January 12, 1864. Snow blankets the valley floor of Canyon de Chelly in what is now the Navajo Nation of Arizona. Steep, rugged walls of red sandstone rise on either side, hiding narrow, treacherous trails, caves, and ledges known only to the Diné. The only sounds are of birdsong, the rush of the river, and the hushed whispers of men and women as they wait and watch for an enemy that draws ever closer. Nearly 300 Diné cling to fortress rock, a stony outcrop commanding the canyon below. Families from all across the homeland have gathered in this place, seeking refuge from the U.S. Army. Behind them, they have left burned villages, ruined crops, slaughtered livestock, and the bodies of those who were not able to escape.
Canyon de Chelly has been the Diné sanctuary for generations. Its towering cliffs funnel attackers into narrow approaches, exposing them to defenders above. But this is the dead of winter. Food is scarce. Supplies are dwindling. There is nowhere else to go. For now, they wait, listening. The snow muffling every footfall. Fingers tighten around weapons. In a matter of hours, the U.S. Cavalry will ride into this stone sanctuary... And what follows will open one of the darkest chapters in American history, the destruction of Diné resistance and the onset of the long walk of the Navajo. Our guest today is Dr. Jennifer Dinette Dale, professor and chair of American Studies at the University of New Mexico and author of the books Reclaiming Diné History, The Legacies of Navajo Chief Manuelito and Juanita, as well as The Long Walk, The Forced Exile of the Navajo.
Dr. Dinette Dale is the former chair of the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission. I'm Don Wildman, and this is American History Hit. Hello, Jennifer. Thanks for being with us today. I really appreciate it.
Good morning. Yatei Don. I'm happy to be here.
Here at the outset of this conversation, Jennifer, I think it's important. I think people will be curious about your ancestry, a bit of your background for context. Can you explain your family origins?
I just introduced myself in the proper way of the Diné or the Diné people. who have one of the largest land bases within the United States and in a region that's known as the American Southwest. I am Diné. I'm originally from the great Navajo Nation, and I currently reside in Albuquerque, New Mexico, mostly because of my work at the University of New Mexico.
Can you explain the term Diné versus Navajo? Are they interchangeable?
People often interchange Diné and Navajo, but they mean completely different things. Diné is a Navajo word. It means the people. Another word for ourself is earth surface people and five-fingered ones. And we consider ourselves or talk about ourselves as the grandchildren of the holy people.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–8:46
2
What was Canyon de Chelly like on the morning the Long Walk began?
8:46–20:14
3
Who is Dr. Jennifer Nez Denetdale and what are her Diné family origins?
20:14–28:54
4
How do the terms Diné and Navajo differ and where are Diné sacred homelands located?
28:54–50:16